Reporter: Yan Jin, Correspondent: Dai Lulu
In recent years, Ningbo Airport has experienced steady growth in international passenger traffic. Official data reveals that in 2025, the Airport's Customs authority processed a record 1.0711 million inbound and outbound passengers, reaching a six-year high.
This surge, which saw passenger numbers cross the one-million mark, has ignited a boom at the outbound duty-free store in Terminal T2 of Ningbo Lishe International Airport. Inside, shelves are stocked with a dazzling array of goods, including tobacco, alcohol, and luggage, catering to a continuous stream of travelers and driving robust sales.
"In 2025, our store hit sales of 6.94 million yuan, that's a year-on-year jump of94.27 percent," said Li Lei, Business Manager at the duty-free store operated by China Duty Free Group at Ningbo Lishe International Airport. "And since January this year (2026), the momentum has kept building, which gives us tremendous confidence going forward."
To support the port's duty-free outlets in seizing the crucial Spring Festival sales period, Ningbo Customs has guided companies through procedures for the inter-port transfer and Customs declaration for warehouse entry of duty-free goods, achieving a model of "immediate inspection and release upon arrival". Throughout 2025, the Customs authority facilitated the smooth transfer and storage of five batches, involving more than 30,000 items. This ensured a plentiful supply of over 400 best-selling products, effectively catering to the shopping demands of travelers.
“We have actively coordinated with the originating Customs authority, and the inter-port transfer of duty-free goods has been fully paperless since 2026,” stated Hong Yang, Deputy Section Chief of the Third Passenger Inspection Division at Ningbo Airport Customs. “What was previously the most time-consuming part of the process is now handled with instant system approvals. This eliminates the need for businesses to submit physical documents in person, naturally saving them a great deal of time.”
More News: Your Guide to Duty-Free Shopping
Ever wondered what “duty-free” really means? Is there a duty-free shopping allowance for outbound passengers?
Ningbo Airport Customs offers the following guidance for travelers:
1. What taxes are exempt from duty-free goods?
Duty-free goods are exempt from three specific taxes: Customs duties, import value-added tax (VAT), and consumption tax.
2. Who is eligible to shop at the port's duty-free outlets?
Outbound duty-free outlets at the port are exclusively for passengers who have cleared exit formalities and are awaiting international departure. Conversely, inbound duty-free outlets are reserved for passengers who have just arrived and have not yet completed entry procedures.
3. What documentation is required to shop at the port’s duty-free outlets?
Travelers must present their boarding pass (or equivalent travel ticket), a valid passport or other travel documentfor duty-free purchases.
4. Is there a limit to duty-free shoppingat the airport?
This is a common point of confusion. “Duty-free” means the goods were exempt from import taxes, such as Customs duties, when they entered the country. It does not give travelers a free pass to carry any amount or value of these goods across borders. Rules on what personal goods travelers can bring in vary widely around the world. Therefore, it's essential for passengers to check the Customs rules of their specific destination before they travel.
Customs officers from Ningbo Airport Customs are conducting inspections at the duty-free shop at the exit of port. Reporter Hong Yang / Photo taken
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Yongpai APP. The Yongpai APP version shall prevail.
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